Born and raised in Kentucky, Blake spent his childhood in the mountains of Appalachia, where he began his lifelong affair with the outdoors. He has been rock climbing for over twenty-six years, is a certified AMGA guide, and enjoys all types of climbing, from big walls to crack climbs to clipping bolts and pebble wrestling. He has ticked off hundreds of routes across the US, including over 1700 routes in the Red River Gorge alone, over 100 of which are first ascents, all while managing a successful software company.

Blake’s combined experience in the outdoor and tech worlds brought him to the American Alpine Club in 2012, where he now pushes around zeros and ones, constructing web applications and software as the AAC Senior Software Engineer and Code Monkey.

These days, you can find Blake in and around Red River Gorge, Kentucky, climbing rocks, bolting new routes, fixing old ones, dusting off boulders, and eating Nutella brownies at the Red River Rockhouse, where he can often be found writing code for the American Alpine Club and maintaining the website www.BadBolts.com where climbers nation-wide can report bolts that may need attention. Check it out next time you find a spinner.

Allison received a masters in library and information sciences from the University of Denver and started at the AAC as a volunteer in 2013. She enjoys reading, nordic skiing and hiking and camping in Colorado's wild places. Her favorite collection from the AAC archives is Albert Ellingwood's scrapbooks and photographs from his climbs in Colorado and Wyoming in the 1920s.

Truc has been reveling in the climbing world for over 25 years and is a professional photographer/videographer. Aside from teaching his 3 year old son the ethics of climbing-dirt-baggery, he's an avid skier, mountaineer, and alpinist, as well as the guitarist for The Struggles and an unbelievable source of energy and stoke. You can usually find him emceeing our events and instigating a party.

Waverley grew up in Seattle, where she fell in love with the outdoors through backpacking, sailing, and exploring Washington's volcanoes. While studying Geography and Environmental Studies at CU Boulder, Waverley discovered climbing and quickly developed an appreciation for the friendships and challenges associated with the sport. In addition to climbing, she is passionate about backcountry skiing and spending time in the mountains with friends. Waverley is excited to support AAC members and the climbing community through her role as Member Services and Volunteer Representative.

After years of flatland and football, Clark found home again at higher elevations after a momentous trek in the Rockies. Shortly thereafter, he moved to the Left Coast, seeking tutelage from the madcaps and boddhisatvas of the climbing community. The will to climb has since taken him back east and west again to delight in the vertical lands of Turtle Island. Clark is thrilled to carry the torch down in Hueco, to serve the climbing community and Hueco Tanks State Park in such a way that celebrates and maintains current and future access.

Will joined the AAC team in 2018 as manager of the AAC Rumney Campground. He grew up as a bona fide country boy in rural Mississippi where there is not a mountain or cliff to be found. He discovered rock climbing in 2005 and immediately became consumed with the sport. He went on to graduate college with a degree in Finance and Contract Management, which transitioned into a successful career with the Department of Defense.

He spent his formative climbing years on the immaculate sandstone of the Cumberland Plateau, but moved to New Hampshire in 2015 for a change of scenery. Since then he has spent innumerable days deciphering Rumney schist, eventually climbing 5.14. He is a self-described jack-of-all-trades and looks forward to implementing those skills to help the new AAC Rumney Campground reach its potential. Will lives at the campground with his wife, Michele, and 3 dogs. They have traveled all over the world, and hope to continue seeing new places.

Rachel Goldman eats rock for breakfast. She started climbing over a decade ago in the Red River Gorge, and just can’t get enough; clipping bolts, placing widgets and pebble wrestling. After spending the past 3 winters in Hueco she’s now addicted to desert bouldering and the Hueco winter scene. When she’s not out scrambling, Rachel can be found creating beautiful henna body art and works on canvas-you can see her work at instagram.com/bellahenna.Rachel is psyched to be a part of preserving access and serving the climbing community in Hueco Tanks.

Moira grew up in Portland Oregon. She began climbing in a local gym during her senior year of college. After having her first outdoor experience at Smith Rock she was hooked. Moira graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Portland State University in 2017. In September 2018, Moira hit the road in her van to travel and climb. Never having spent much time on the East Coast, Moira is excited to be spending the season working in Rumney, exploring a new area, a new style of climbing, and getting to know the community.

Ryan comes from Portland, OR but grew up on the east coast. The Gunks and the Adirondacks were his early teachers of rock, and the Appalachian mountains his early inspiration. He's spent time in various parts of the country teaching and guiding rock climbing, skiing, and cycling. He first joined the GTCR staff in 2014 on the move west, and fell in love with the allure and challenge of Teton climbing. The PNW volcanoes and Cascades are a close second. He's also currently working on a master's degree in Adventure Education to become an outdoor educator in the academic world. Thrilled to be back in the Tetons, Ryan is ready to welcome climbers and guests to the best lodging in Jackson Hole.

Zach found climbing in Kearney, Nebraska while working at his university wall where he learned from a number of patient and extraordinary mentors. Over the course of his Undergraduate studies, he spent weekends and breaks on the road. Finding his true passion for climbing in Arkansas, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. When not climbing he can most likely be found behind the lens of a camera (digital or analog) or on a mountain bike saddle.

He graduated in May 2018 with a BA in Secondary Education and soon after began working for the Omaha Public School System and part-time at the local climbing gym. While teaching is a true passion of Zach’s he has been spending the past year transitioning to work in the outdoor industry. After climbing and backpacking in Grand Teton National Park and being inspired by the landscape and the community of the AAC Climbers Ranch he felt moved to give back and share the love for climbing. Zach is excited to be working with the AAC this summer to serve the community in one of America’s most stunning and historic climbing areas.

Raised in the jungles of Panama, Lyle developed a love for hiking, kayaking, biking, backpacking and general exploration. These passions along with Lyle’s interests in wildlife conservation led him to earn a B.S. in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was first introduced to the world of climbing. Having tackled large portions of the Appalachian Mountains Lyle looks forward to expanding his climbing and backpacking background while welcoming fellow climbers to the Grand Tetons.

Holly was born in Taiwan, a tropical island smaller than the state of Colorado sitting just off the southeastern Chinese coast. She lived in the urban sprawl of Hong Kong, and the quiet beachside town of Santa Cruz before Colorado called to her and she answered. Holly enjoys all forms of climbing (except bouldering, because scary, duh), and her favorite places to climb are Yosemite and Pinnacles National Park.

It has been a strange and winding journey that led her to the club, and she hopes it continues to be that way for she is happiest exploring things new and unknown. Outside of her climbing life, Holly is a published author, an award-winning novelist, and a recipient of two research awards from her alma mater, the University of California at Santa Cruz. A writer, a sister, a climber, a mountaineer, she says: “I might pee myself in fear, but bring it on.”

Amelia is working with the AAC as the Policy Intern, working to advance access on public lands, conserve mountain environments, advocate for responsible climate action, and ensure spaces are protected for human powered recreation for all. Amelia graduated with a B.S. in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University and joins the club after time spent working as an organizer in Wyoming. She hopes to grow as a policy researcher and analyst in her time spent with the Club, and to later pursue a Masters in Environmental Law and Policy. You can find Amelia climbing in the greater Salt Lake region where she currently resides, pulling limestone pockets in American Fork canyon, or getting scared on trad routes in the Cottonwoods.